Glass Bowl Title:  Earth and Water

Dimensions: 14 1/2" diameter, 6" deep

Materials: clear glass punch bowl, 3/8" stained glass tiles (red-Youghiogheny, blue-Wissmach), Liquid Nails for small projects - clear, charcoal grout - 50% sanded/50% un-sanded.

Challenges: client wanted the scallop along the rim disguised and the ridges on the sides minimized.  

Date: July 2001

This bowl was commissioned to be similar in design to the Earth Wind & Water Hurricane Lamp.  With this piece, the client requested the use of more blue glass and the omission of the clear.  However, when I started, I had it stuck in my brain somewhere that we were still going to use some of the clear somewhere, so I masked off the base of the bowl to expose the clear glass of the bowl.

When gluing the tiles on a somewhat vertical surface, I usually use a bit of masking tape to keep the tiles from sliding.

The bowl's ridges on the sides were very difficult for me to work around.  It may not be a choice I make again, however, in this case, I think the slight angle the tiles lay around the ridges adds a nice dimension to the piece.   

To disguise the scalloped rim around the bowl, I laid 3/8" x 1/8" inch tiles over the space between the bumps.  It worked very well, if I don't say so myself.

I let the bowl dry for about 2 days before I applied the grout.  I used 50% charcoal sanded grout and 50% charcoal un-sanded grout.  Although I only had a few places around the rim with gaps larger than 1/8" an inch, I usually add a bit of sanded in for strength even though I prefer the finish of un-sanded grout with glass on glass pieces.

Once it was grouted, I wasn't entirely happy with it.  It didn't look right but I couldn't figure out why.  I took it to my client for review and she nailed the problem right away.

It wasn't finished.  The base left clear, didn't work.   I brought it back home and added another row of the dark red and then a row of blue half tiles at the very bottom ridge.  I also put a few self adhesive felt pads on the bottom so that it didn't scratch her table.

In this picture you can see the inside of the rim where I put one row of blue tiles to finish off the inside.

The finished piece.  I love the way the light bounces through the blue tiles at the bottom.  What a luxury to have a client with a great eye and patience to work with me on this project.  Plus, she loves it.  It has been one of my most satisfying pieces.